McLean Trick-Or-Treat 2018: Hours, Safety Tips

MCLEAN, VA—Wondering when to take your kids out for trick-or-treat or turn your porch light on to greet kids with sweet treats? Well, there are no set trick-or-treat hours in Fairfax County, so you can expect kids to be going door-to-door the evening of Halloween (Wednesday, Oct. 31).

Check with your homeowners associations and apartment buildings if they have designated trick-or-treat times; otherwise follow the Oct. 31 time.

Fairfax County Police have offered tips to ensure your ghosts and goblins have a safe trick-or-treat night:

1. Trick-or-treat with trusted neighbors. Use the Nextdoor Treat Map to plan your route ahead of time and find the safest, most efficient route to the candy. You can access the Treat Map at www.nextdoor.com/treat. If you're signed up for Nextdoor, you can add their homes to the map. Choose the Teal Pumpkin if you plan to hand out non-food treats for trick-or-treaters with food allergies.

2. Dress like a ghoul or goblin, but stay safe. Make sure costumes and candy bags or pails are reflective. Costumes shouldn’t drag too far on the ground to avoid tripping, and masks, hats, and shoes should be well-fitting. Make sure your child’s Halloween costume is made with fire retardant materials and has eye holes large enough for your child to safely see out of.

3. Watch for children walking on roadways, medians, and curbs if you plan to be driving during trick-or-treat hours. Be sure to enter and exit driveways carefully.

4. Use well-marked routes to get to the candy. Always use the sidewalk, and do not cut across yards or use alleys. Wherever possible, cross the road at a crosswalk.

5. When in doubt, throw the candy out. Avoid candy that has loose wrappings, is completely unwrapped, has puncture holes, or is homemade and not factory-wrapped. Small children should not be allowed hard candy, which could be a choking hazard.

SEE ALSO:

• 6 Family-Friendly Halloween Events Around McLean
• McLean 2018 Halloween Sex Offender Safety Info

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